Paintbrush protector



May 31, 1949. M. BUHOVECKEY 2,472,001

PAINT BRUSH PROTECTOR Filed July 51, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PIC-3.2.

I I N III T MICHAEL BUHOVECKEY /NVNTO/? ATTORNEYS May 31, 1949.

PAINT BRUSH PROTECTOR Filed July '31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F /\Jr I M M A mung 5 m j :m ;z

o o o o o o o o o L 1 MICHAEL BUHOVECKEY /NVENTOR ATTORNEYS M. BIUHOVECKEY 2,472,001

Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to means for caring for and storing paint brushes which have been previously used, to keep the brushes from drying out, and to keep the bristles soft and pliable, ready for the next use. It will be understood that the word paint is used for the sake of brevity, and includes any liquid coating material usually applied by a brush, whether a pigmented liquid, or varnish, or the like. For the sake of brevity, the means embodying my invention may be termed a paint brush protector. The principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved means of these types.

The novel features of the invention will appear from this specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and showing several embodiments of the invention for purposes of illustration, and all of these novel features are intended to be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, a main receptacle means being in section, of one embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevational view, the main receptacle means being mostly broken away, of the embodiment of Figure 1, looking toward the right hand side of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view, on a somewhat smaller scale, of a detail part of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another detail part of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 5 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 6 is a side elevational view, a main receptacle means being in section, of another embodiment of my invention,

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views, on an enlarged scale, of detailed parts of the embodiment of Figure 6, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of a detail part of the embodiment of Figure 6.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 5, the paint brush protector here shown comprises a main receptacle 29 which includes an open top can 2|, of generally rectangular cross-sectional outline, along with a cover 22. As here shown, the cover 22 fits the top of the can 2| tightly, but the cover may be constructed and arranged in any other suitable manner to prevent substantial evaporation of liquid which may be disposed in the can. The can 2| may be provided with a generally U-shaped handle, or bail 23 by which the can may be conveniently carried, the handle 23 being shown in the down-turned position. The cover 22 may be provided with a handle 24 to facilitate removal of the cover from the can.

Disposed in the can 2| is a means for receiving one or more individual receptacles, two of which, 25, 26, are shown. The receptacles 25, 26 are here shown as having brushes 21, 28 suspended therein, the receptacles containing preservative liquid to a desired level suflicient to immerse the bristles of the brushes 21, 28, or at any rate to a level to immerse a portion of the length of the bristles of the brushes suflicient to keep them wet and pliable. The preservative liquid may be linseed oil, turpentine, or any other desired, suitable liquid.

The receiving means for the receptacles 25, 26 is desirably in the form of a wire basket 29 in which the individual receptacles 25, 26 are disposed in side-by-side relation. Each individual receptacle 25, 26 is desirably of rectangular crosssectional outline, and these individual receptacles are desirably of the same width, cross-wise of the basket 29, but of difierent height and thickness,

. as will more fully appear. In the illustrated embodiment, the term thickness of a receptacle 25 or 26 refers to the transverse dimension of the narrow side of the receptacle.

The basket 29 is so constructed and arranged.

that it may be readily inserted and withdrawn from the can 2|. To this end the general outlines of the basket 29 are such that they fit reasonabl snugly within the cross-sectional outline of the can 2|, or at any rate, so that, desirably, there is no excessive side-wise lost motion between the basket and the can.

The number of individual receptacles such as 25, 26, that the basket 29 can accommodate will depend, of course, on the sum of the thicknesses of the individual receptacles, and the desired number of receptacles. The number of individual receptacles, such as 25, 26, found satisfactory for the average home owner, for example, may be from about four or six to eight, based on an average variety of large and smaller brushes. The length of the basket 29, and of course the can 2 I, may, if desired, be made suflicient to accommo date the maximum number of-individual receptacles that may be needed, but it is not necessary that all of these receptacles be purchased, nor, if purchased, that they be all disposed in the basket at one time.

The basket 29 is of very simple construction, comprising, as here shown, an upper rectangular frame having parallel side parts 39, 3|, and transverse end parts 32, 3S, and a lower rectangular frame, of approximately the same length as the upper frame, but of less width, and having parallel side parts 34, 35, and transverse end parts 36, 31. Extending upwardly from the four corners of the lower frame are uprights 53, 38 and. 41, the uprights 38, 39 being here shown as integrally joined by a cross-wise portion '52, and the uprights 40, ll being similarly joined by a crosswise portion 43, both portions 12: and lt being here shown as arched.

The uprights 33, 39, and 65, ii are in contact with the respective ends 33 of the upper frame and welded to these ends, or otherwise suitably fastened thereto.

The frame 36, 3|, 32, 83 is here shown as defining an outline fitting within the cross-sectional outline of the can 2 l. The individual receptacles 25, 26 are of such width that they may be slipped freely between the sides 38, 3! of the upper frame,

the bottoms of the receptacles resting on the sides 34, 35 of the lower frame.

When less than all of the individual receptacles designed to be received by the basket, are in use, as for example the two receptacles 25, as illustrated, it is desirable that some means be provided to hold the receptacle 26 against the receptacle 25, the latter in turn being held against the uprights 38, 39. To this end there has been here shown an elongated block i t of wood, or other suitable material, the block having notches e5, 46 transversely of its ends, so dimensioned that when the block is first angled between the sides 30, 3| of the upper frame and then straightened to a position at right angles to the sides 8%, with said sides engaging in the notches t5, the block will be frictionally held in position, assisted by the resilience of the sides 3t, 3! which are very slightly cambered outwardly by the block. The block 44 is moved into the position shown in Figure 1 in which it engages the receptacle thereby holding both receptacles 25, iii in the position shown. Other means may be substituted for the block 44; even crumpled paper may serve this purpose, by stuffing it between the side of receptacle 26, for example, and the right hand end of the basket 29.

Means is provided for suspending a plurality of brushes in the preservative liquid in the recep-- tacle means. As here shown this suspending means includes a rod 41 which is surrounded by a helically found wire t8. Desirably, the wi e 48 is relatively openly wound, so as to have a desired distance between the turns of the helix. Desirably the ends 45, 55 of the wire 58 are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the rod 31.

As here shown the rod ll is supported by rods or standards 52 welded or otherwise suitably fastened at their upper ends to the ends of the rod 41, and at their lower ends to the respective arched portions 42, 43.

Figures 1 and 2 show a large paint brush 21 suspended in the individual receptacle by means of a hook 53 having an arcuate portion hung on the rod 41, between turns of the helical wire 48, and having a straight lip 55, extending up wardly at an angle, through a complementary hole 56 drilled in the handle of the brush 2?. A smaller brush 28, is shown suspended in preservative liquid in the individual receptacle 25 by a sirnilar hook 53a. The height of the individual receptacle 26 and the length of the brush 28 being less than in the case of the receptacle 25 and the brush 21, the neck 58a of the hook 530. is made suitably longer than the neck 58 of the hook 53.

4 Hooks of various lengths may be furnished with the apparatus as sold, or may be bent of wire by the purchaser. The brushes may also be su pended as described in connection with Figure 6.

The provision of the helical wire at makes easy the lateral positioning of brushes suspended from the rod 41, and at the same time ensures that the brushes will maintain their desired positions, as, for example, when the receptacle means 29 is carried about.

It will be noted that the receptacle 26 for the small brush 28 is not only of less height than the receptacle 25 for the large brush 21, but is of less thickness, and it will be evident that having such individual receptacles for the brushes to be protected not only results in economy in the preservative liquid but also prevents mixture of pigments, so that where brushes are frequently used for the same paint, or other coating material, they need not be first cleaned. Also different preservative liquids may be used when that is found desirable, depending on the nature of the coating material the brush has been used to apply.

The assembly comprising the basket 29, the receptacles 25, 26, and the suspended brushes, may of course be lifted from the can 21 by the rod 41.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 through 9, a rod 41a, surrounded by a. helically wound wire 48a, similar to the rod, 41 and wire 48 of the embodiment of Figures 2, and 3, is shown supported in a different way, namely, directly by a can 21a, of the receptacle means 20a. To that end brackets 60, Si in which the ends of the rod 41a are removably supported, are provided. One of these brackets, BI, is shown in perspective in Figure '7. The bracket 6| comprises a generally U-shaped piece of sheet metal, desirably resilient, the bight '62 of the U being arcuate and having relatively flat outwardly flaring extensions 63, 64. The stamping from which the bracket 61 is made is desirably provided with lugs 65, 6B which are bent so as to be at right angles to the axis of the arcuate portion 62. One of the lugs, 66, is shown as extending from the flat portion 64, and the other, 65, from the arcuate portion 62. The lugs 65, 66 may be spot welded to the inside wall of the can 21a, or may be fastened by screws and nuts, or in any other suitable way.

Desirably, the width of the entrance 61 to the arcuate portion is somewhat less than the diameter of the rod 41a, so that pressure is required to force an end of the rod into the arcuate portion, whereby the rod will be resiliently and frictionally held in the bracket 6 I.

As indicated in Figure 6, both brackets 60, 61 are of the form shown in Figure '7, but one of the brackets, for example the bracket 6|, may be replaced ;by a bracket 68 such as shown in Figure 8. The bracket 68 has wings 69, 10 in the same plane, and connected by an intermediate offset portion 1| having an aperture 12 of a size to readily receive an end of the rod 41a. The wings B9, 10 my be suitably fastened to the inside of the can Zla, so that the axis of the aperture 12 is in alignment with the axis of the arcuate portion of the bracket 60. The rod 41a is put into operative position by holding the rod at an angle to the horizontal and first inserting the right hand end thereof into the aperture 12, and then pressing the left hand end of the rod into the arcuate portion of the bracket 60.

In the embodiment of Figure 6 the can 2| a is tied above and about the rod 41a between turns of the helical wire 48a. It will, of course, be apparent that the brush i3 may be suspended from the rod by a hook, in the manner described in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 through 5. The number of brushes which can be suspended is of course limited only by the thickness of the brushes and the length of the rod 41a, but, desirably, the brushes will be suspended out of lateral contact with each other, and, by reason of the helical wire 48a, they will maintain their desired positions.

The embodiment of Figures 6 through 9 shows a tray 11 resting on the bottom of the can 2| a, the tray being of a width somewhat less than that of the bottom of the can, so that the tray may be tilted transversely, as will appear. The tray 11 has a plurality of apertures 18, so that when the tray is lifted out of the preservative liquid, the liquid will drain from the tray, the pigment or sludge which has settled from the suspended brushes remaining in the bottom of the tray. The tray 1'! is preferably provided with means for lifting it, in this instance a U- shaped wire handle 19, the ends of which are Welded or otherwise suitably fastened to one side wall, 80, of the tray. By lifting on the handle 19, the tray 11 will be lifted, and caused to tilt transversely, particularly when it reaches the brackets 60, 6|, so that the tray may be removed from the can Zia.

The purchaser of an embodiment such as illustrated in Figure 6, may convert it to the more elaborate embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, by simple removal of the rod 41a and the tray 11, and substitution of the basket 29 and individual receptacles. If necessary the brackets 68, 6! would be removed, this depending on whether it is preferred to make the basket 29 of substantially the full horizontal length of the can Zla, and the brackets removable, or to make the brackets non-removable and the basket of less length, to clear the brackets.

It will be evident that, in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 5, instead of supporting the rod 41 by the standards 5|, 52, these standards may be omitted and the rod l? may be supported by brackets til, 6| or til, 68, as in the embodiment of Figures 6 through 8. In such case, the members 42, 43 would be used as handles for lifting the basket 29, and the basket would be of a length to clear the brackets. The rod 41 would, of course, have to be removed from its brackets before the basket 29 could be lifted out of the can 2|.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention provides a new and improved paint brush protector, and accordingly, each accomplishes the principal object of the invention. On the other hand, it also will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiments of the invention may be variously changed and modified. or features thereof, singly or collectively, embodied in other combinations than those illustrated, without departing from the spirit oi the invention, or sacrificing all of the advantages thereof, and that accordingly, the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and the invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A paint brush protector, comprising: receptacle means for containing preservative liquid, said receptacle means including a plurality of separate open-top receptacles; receiving means for receiving said receptacles in side-by-side relation; means for suspending a plurality of brushes in the preservative liquid in said receptacles, respectively, said suspending means including a rod surrounded by a helically wound wire; and means for supporting said suspending means above said receptacles.

2. A point brush protector, comprising: receptacle means for containing preservative liquid,

r said receptacle means including a plurality of separate open-top receptacles; receiving means for receiving saidreceptacles in side-by-side relation; means for suspending a plurality of brushes in the preservative liquid in said receptacles, respectively, said suspending means including a rod surrounded by a helically wound wire; and means, carried by said receiving means, for supporting said suspending means above said receptacles.

3. A paint brush protector, comprising: receptacle means for containing preservative liquid, said receptacle means including a plurality of open-top receptacles; receiving means for receiving said receptacles in side-by-side relation, said receiving means comprising basket-means including a first pair of spaced substantially parallel elements engageable by opposite sides of said receptacles, and a second pair of elements spaced a lesser distance than said first pair, and substantially parallel to said first pair and disposed with respect thereto so as to be engageable by the bottoms of said receptacles; means for suspending a plurality of brushes in the preservative liquid in said receptacles, respectively, said suspending means including a rod; and means for supporting said rod so that it is disposed above said receptacles and approximately parallel to said elements.

4. A paint brush protector, comprising: receptacle means for containing preservative liquid, said receptacle means including a plurality of open-top receptacles; receiving means for receiving said receptacles in side-by-side relation, said receiving means comprising basket-means including a first pair of spaced substantially parallel elements engageable by opposite sides of said receptacles, and a second pair of elements spaced a lesser distance than said first pair, and substantially parallel to said first pair and disposed with respect thereto so as to be engageable by the bottoms of said receptacles; means for suspending a plurality of brushes in the preservative liquid in said receptacles, respectively, said suspending means including a rod surrounded by a helically wound wire, and means for supporting said rod so that it is disposed above said receptacles and approximately parallel to said elements.

5. A paint brush protector, comprising: opentop receptacle means for containing preservative liquid; means for suspending a plurality of brushes in the preservative liquid, said suspending means including a rod and means for supporting said rod above and across said open-top receptacle means in a position such that a suspending member, at one end engaging a handle of a brush and at the other end engaging said rod, will suspend a selected portion of the bristle-end of the brush in the preservative liquid; and means constructed and arranged to prevent displacement of the suspending member along said rod from a selected position of engagement on said rod, to maintain the brush suspended from a. selected position on said rod, said means including a wire wound helically around said rod, the turns of the helix being spaced suificiently to permit a suspending member to engage said rod between selected adjacent turns of the helix.

6. A paint brush protector, comprising: receptacle means for containing preservative liquid, said receptacle means including a plurality of separate open-top receptacles of oblong rectangular cross-sectional outline; receiving means comprising a Wire basket of oblong rectangular cross-sectional outline for receiving said receptacles in side-by-side transverse relation; means for suspending a plurality of brushes in the preservative liquid in said receptacles, respectively; and means carried by said wire basket for supporting said suspending means above said receptacles.

MICHAEL BUHOVECKEY.

REFERENCES CITED i The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Carmichael Sept. 15, 1914 Sather Apr. 5, 1921 Sohnle Oct. 23, 1923 Schwartz Apr. 6, 1926 Blaskewitz June 3, 1930 Chapman Feb. 20, 1934 Painter Mar. 27, 1934 Albanese et a1 Nov. 6, 1934 Ewing Aug. 23, 1938 Harrison May 6, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Aug. 22, 1936 

